Cervical cancer: Nigeria to vaccinate 7.7m girls.

Nigeria, on Tuesday, introduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunisation system and it is aimed at reaching 7.7 million girls, the largest number in a single round of HPV vaccination in the African region in a vaccination drive against the virus that causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer.

Girls aged nine to 14 years will receive a single dose of the vaccine, which is highly efficacious in preventing infection with HPV types 16 and 18 that are known to cause at least 70% of cervical cancers.

A five-day mass vaccination campaign in schools and communities will be carried out during the inaugural rollout in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory and then the vaccine will be incorporated into routine immunization schedules in health facilities. The second phase of the vaccination introduction is set to start in May 2024 in 21 states.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate in release said 'The loss of about 8000 Nigerian women yearly from a disease that is preventable is completely unacceptable.'

According to him, 'Cervical cancer is mostly caused by HPV, and parents can avoid physical and financial pain by protecting their children with a single dose of the vaccine.

'Saving lives, and producing quality health outcomes and protecting the wellbeing of Nigerians are central to the Renewed Health Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

'The onset of the vaccination campaign is an opportunity to safeguard our girls from the scourge of cervical cancers many years into the future.

'As a parent myself, I have four daughters, all of them have had the same HPV vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer. I'd like to implore fellow parents to dutifully ensure that this generation of our girls disrupts the preventable loss of lives to cervical cancer in addition to other untold hardship, loss, and pain.'

WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, in a remark said that 'This is a pivotal moment in Nigeria's efforts to lower the burden of cervical cancer - one of the few cancers which can potentially be eliminated through vaccination. We're committed to supporting the government to increase access to the HPV vaccine to protect the health and well-being of the next generation of women.'

In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths among women aged between 15...